UFC 140: 4 Reasons Why Antonio Nogueira Can Still Compete at Heavyweight

At UFC 140, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will meet Frank Mir in a rematch that could push one of them into title contention.

Nogueira is one of the true legends of MMA. 

The former Pride heavyweight and UFC interim heavyweight champ has been through a lot over the past couple of years. 

Despite being in what many are considering the twilight of his career, Nogueira can still perform in the heavyweight division. 

Keep reading to find out why.

He Trains at One of the Best Camps in the World

When you train with some of the best fighters in the world, you're bound to have some success. 

Nogueira trains with UFC champions Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo and Junior dos Santos, as well as former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida. 

Being surrounded by such great fighters has to rub off on Nogueira. 

The Heavyweight Division Is Weak

One of the biggest reasons Nogueira can still compete is because of the division he fights in. 

The heavyweight division is not the most stacked division in the world. 

The division is also top heavy.

Besides Junior dos Santos, Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir, the division is filled with guys who are either gatekeepers who could be close to being a contender, or younger fighters who still need a big fight before being serious contenders. 

Nogueira is a big enough name that a couple of wins can put him right back up with the top tier of heavyweights. 

He Finally Seems Healthy

One of the big problems for Nogueira has been staying healthy. 

Once one of the most durable guys in the division, Nogueira has had to deal with nagging injuries over the past couple of years. 

In his first fight with Frank Mir, Nogueira was battling a staph infection. 

Since then he has gone through surgeries on both knees as well as a hip surgery. 

If Nogueira is truly healthy then he can be one of the best in the world. 

He's Still a Dangerous Fighter

In his fight against Brandon Schaub, Nogueira proved that he's still a very dangerous fighter. 

Nogueira is one of the best submission artists in MMA history and still packs a lot of power in his punches. 

Nogueira may not be the fighter he once was, but he should not be taken lightly.